13 Best Workout Shirts for Men of 2026

The best workout shirts for men should be just as versatile as your training routine. Whatever your fitness agenda calls for, a great performance tee should wick sweat, move with you, and survive countless trips through the laundry without emerging significantly worse for wear or perpetually odorous.But performance is only half the equation. Because when you hit the gym to get those gains, it's always a boost of confidence to show up in something that doesn't make you feel like a schlub. To that end, we've tested dozens of tees, tanks, and compression tops to find the ones the balance of comfort, durability, and good looks.The Best Men's Workout Shirts, According to GQThe Best Overall Workout Shirt: Rhone Reign Tee, $68The Best Value Workout Shirt: Nike Dri-FIT Legend Shirt, $30The Best Running Shirt: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Tee, $80The Best for Hot Weather: Lululemon Vent Tech Shirt, $88The Best for Heavy Sweaters: Bandit Micromesh Shirt, $88The Best Compression Base Layer: Under Armour HeatGear Compression Shirt, $40 $30The Best Workout Tank: Abercrombie & Fitch YPB Cropped Muscle Tank, $40More Workout Shirts We LoveWhat to Look for in Workout ShirtsHow We TestedWorkout Shirts FAQBest Workout Shirt Overall: Rhone Reign TeeIf you're only going to buy one workout shirt, make it Reign (sorry). Rhone's four-way stretch tee clings in all the right places (around the biceps, for example, so the sleeves don't ride up and down) and doesn't cling to any of the wrong ones (the shoulders, armpits, gut), thanks to raglan sleeves and a slightly looser fit. It's breathable enough to prevent soak-throughs, but not so thin that a brisk day will highlight your nips to everyone on the track.The best part, though, is that the fabric is infused with microscopic bits of gold for anti-odor protection. It sounds dumb, but shirts we bought around the same time from other brands have already acquired a certain musk. This one, mercifully, has not. Throw in UPF 50+ sun protection, and you can easily transition from grinding at the gym to logging miles outside.Best Value Workout Shirt: Nike Dri-FITEvery brand now makes its own sweat-wicking fabric, but after nearly three decades on the market, Nike's Dri-FIT is still the benchmark. The lineup now spans just about every sport imaginable, from running and training to golf and soccer, with everyday options like Primary Dri-FIT offering a softer, more versatile feel and Dri-FIT ADV dialing things up with more technical fabrics and body-mapped ventilation.The Legend, meanwhile, is the most affordable of the bunch, and for most people, it's also the sweet spot. It delivers the same tried-and-true sweat-wicking performance in a lightweight, athletic-fitting tee that costs about half as much as many of our other top picks. Better still, Nike gear is almost always on sale somewhere, making it the most cost-effective solution to the reprehensible cut-off tee collection you're still clinging to.Best Running Shirt: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt TeeTracksmithVan Cortlandt TeeIt's easy to dismiss Tracksmith as a brand built around Prefontaine-era nostalgia: retro running style, short shorts, tube socks, and an all-gas, no-brakes racing ethos. The Van Cortlandt tee certainly looks the part, but the performance is every bit as convincing.The lightweight mesh fabric feels soft against the skin, keeps you cool over long miles, and dries quickly enough that it never turns into a soggy mess halfway through a run. In my experience, it's one of the few running shirts whose performance actually lives up to the aesthetics.Best Workout Shirt for Hot Weather: Lululemon Vent Tech ShirtLululemonMetal Vent Tech ShirtThe Metal Vent Tech deserves its spot in these hallowed rankings because it lets in a whole lot of air. Available in short-sleeve, sleeveless, and long-sleeve versions, it features an exceptionally breathable knit with a series of visible, larger-than-usual holes that somehow don't show any skin. A shade looser than the Rhone Reign, it's hard to beat once the temperature starts climbing.Also: the colorways and contrast-stitched seams provide a nice reprieve from the bright solid colors lining your local sporting goods store. For those of you who aren't inclined to shill for an athletic apparel giant without an endorsement deal in place, the logo, already small and unobtrusive, is tucked away at the bottom of the back.Best Workout Shirt for Heavy Sweaters: Bandit Micromesh ShirtBanditMicromesh Longe-Sleeve ShirtNo matter how low-impact my workout might be, I'm guaranteed to work up a sweat. I love the long-sleeve version of Bandit's Micromesh top, but it's also available in tee and tank form, so you can choose the coverage that works best for you. No matter which you choose, the holey construction won't cling to your skin once things get sweaty, while the anti-odor treatment won't have your gym bros keeping their distance when you're in need of a spotter.I don't recommend wearing it if it's particularly windy—you will get chilly—but that's the tradeoff for all that ventilation. I've noticed zero chafing during runs (which makes sense, since Bandit prides itself on being a running apparel brand), and the relaxed fit is a welcome departure from the skin-tight performance tops that seem designed solely to show off your upper body.Best Compression Base Layer: Under Armour HeatGear Compression ShirtUnder ArmourHeatgear Compression Long Sleeve T-ShirtCompression shirts aren't for everyone, but if you like a locked-in feeling, Under Armour makes one of the best. HeatGear hugs the body without feeling restrictive, adding just enough coverage for cool mornings. The super lightweight fabric wicks sweat surprisingly well for something so close-fitting, and includes mesh panels under the arms and across the back for dumping excess hit where you need it most. For an affordable $30 and some change, it's also one of the easiest performance upgrades you can make.Best Workout Tank: Abercrombie & Fitch YPB Cropped Muscle TankAbercrombie & FitchYPB Active Cropped Heavyweight Cotton TankChest day got you feeling like you want to show a little more off? Behold the muscle tank, a sleeveless way to show off your gains during intense workouts, HIIT training, or cardio days. In my testing, Abercrombie's YPB cropped tank offers just enough shoulder-baring action without venturing into stringer territory.The shirt's 100% cotton feels substantial, drapes nicely, and is exactly what we want to wear for lifting sessions, but it's also perfectly capable for a cardio session. Plus, wearing a muscle tee at the gym just sort of just … rocks. Sometimes it's okay to embrace your inner meathead.More Workout Shirts We LoveY,IWO"Big Boy Club" Crop TeeBefore performance fabrics took over the gym, bodybuilders just cut the sleeves off old T-shirts and got to work. Yeah, I Work Out channels that same old-school spirit with heavyweight cotton cut-offs that look damn good pulling five plates. Just don't expect the sweat-wicking tech or anti-odor treatment of our top picks.VuoriStrato Tech TeeOne of our favorite pieces from Vuori, the Strato Tech Tee is an excellent all-rounder that can handle just about any workout you throw at it. Its buttery-soft, four-way stretch fabric is incredibly comfortable, and it looks just as good grabbing a post-workout coffeePath ProjectsWadi Tank 2.0Most running brands overpromise on "next-gen" fabrics. Path Projects actually delivers. I put the Wadi Tank through sweaty summer miles and came away impressed. The featherlight Japanese micro-mesh fabric practically disappears on my body, dries in a flash, and the bonded seams meant zero chafing, even on longer runs.Reigning ChampLightweight Cordura Standard Training Tank TopIt's no surprise that one of our favorite makers of elevated basics also makes a killer workout tank. The Lightweight Cordura knit is surprisingly soft against the skin while adding a touch more durability than your average performance fabric, and the clean, logo-light design makes the tank more versatile than you think.Ten ThousandInterval ShirtIf you spend enough time at the gym, you'll start spotting Ten Thousand's signature "X" logo everywhere. The brand makes purpose-built gear for everything from running to strength training, but the Versatile Shirt is our favorite jack-of-all-trades. It wicks sweat, resists odor surprisingly well, and has an athletic fit that shows off the results of all those hours in the gym.SatisfyLogo-Print Distressed MothTech™ Cotton-Jersey T-ShirtSatisfy helped pioneer the ultra-lightweight "moth" shirt, but these days we're just as taken with the brand's unmistakable vibes. Between the vintage-inspired graphics, understated logos, and effortlessly cool fits, it's become the ultimate IYKYK running brand—and the performance more than backs up the hype.What to Look for in Workout ShirtsWorkout shirts don't need a ton of bells and whistles, but the right fabric and fit can make a world of difference. Here's what we look for when deciding what's worth packing in your gym bag.Material: Cotton feels great against the skin, but it isn't ideal for high-intensity workouts. Because it absorbs moisture instead of wicking it away, a soaked cotton tee can trap heat, block airflow, and leave you feeling heavy as your workout goes on. That's why you'll rarely see athletes competing in cotton jerseys. The exception is lifting: many lifters prefer a heavyweight cotton tee or tank because it offers a bit more grip against barbells, benches, and your own body than slick performance fabrics. For everything else, look for polyester or polyester blends, which are breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick to dry. A touch of elastane or spandex adds the stretch you need for everything from deep yoga poses to heavy overhead presses, while strategically placed mesh panels can boost airflow when the workout heats up.Fit: The best fit depends on your training style. Compression shirts provide a close, supportive feel, while roomier tees and tanks offer better airflow and unrestricted movement. Unless you're training for something highly specific, it mostly comes down to personal preference.Odor Control: If your workout shirts have a habit of lingering in the laundry basket, odor-resistant treatments are worth seeking out. These treatments help slow the buildup of odor-causing bacteria, keeping shirts fresher between washes—though no treatment lasts forever.Sun Protection: If you regularly train outdoors, look for shirts with a UPF rating. Think of it as sunscreen built into your clothing: UPF-rated fabrics help block harmful UV rays, making them a smart choice for long runs, hikes, and any workout that keeps you in the sun.How We TestedWe ran, lifted, stretched, and sweat through dozens of workout shirts to find the ones worth recommending. We evaluated breathability, moisture management, comfort, durability, fit, and how each shirt held up after repeated workouts and washes. We also paid attention to the details that can make or break a workout, from chafe-free seams and odor control to UPF protection and ventilation. Some of our favorites even earned a coveted GQ Fitness Award, but every pick here proved itself through extensive real-world testing.What material is best for workout shirts?Polyester and polyester blends remain the gold standard because they're lightweight, moisture-wicking, and quick to dry. Look for a little elastane or spandex for stretch, and mesh panels if breathability is a priority.How should a workout shirt fit?That depends on what you're doing. If you're logging miles or crushing a HIIT workout, a slimmer-fitting shirt will move with you without getting in the way. If you're lifting,or you just like a little more airflow, a roomier tee or tank is hard to beat. And if compression tops make you feel like a superhero, by all means, embrace the squeeze.How many workout shirts do I need?More than one, trust. If you work out three or four times a week, three to five shirts should keep your laundry situation under control. Training every day? Aim for at least five to seven. Your washing machine and everyone who has to stand next to you will thank you.For more workout-ready gear and apparel, check out the GQ Gym Shop.